Anti-aedes steps mulled

Star: BUTTERWORTH: New buildings may have to do without rain gutters or “closed” ones may have to be installed to drain away rainwater.
This is the latest measure mulled over by the Government to reduce the breeding grounds of aedes mosquitoes and to check the spread of dengue, said Housing and Local Government Ministry parliamentary secretary Dr S. Subramaniam.
“New buildings in Singapore have been designed without gutters. When it rains, it may be a bit noisy as the rainwater will hit the roof and flow directly to the ground.
“But the move has been effective in preventing the gutters from becoming aedes breeding sites,” he said after opening an anti-dengue campaign and gotong-royong at SJK(T) Ladang Prye here yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said the ministry had asked its architects to study roof designs with closed gutters and also those without gutters.
“Gutters were originally introduced in certain housing projects to help promote the Government’s rain harvesting programme.
“So, removing all gutters from existing houses may jeopardise this programme. Thus, we have to study the issue carefully before making a decision,” he said.
He also noted that the local authorities were also looking at using the bacillus thuringiensis bacteria either as aerosol or in tablet form to kill aedes larvae.
“It is effective but a little costly,” he said.